World of Speed will be free, not free to play

By Tam Mageean

We've been looking forward to Slightly Mad Studios' new entrant, World of Speed, due to its promises to change the face of racing mmo games as we know them. Initially, the big game-changing differences were gameplay related, such as their unique, team racing setup and the heavy, mmo element of establishing your own style of racing class; with speed not being the only key to victory.

In an interview with gamer mag heavyweights, Edge Online; Creative Director, Andy Tudor has shown intent to not only tear down the walls of mmo racers, but also make changes in the free to play realm as a whole too.

"It’s not free-to-play, it’s free...It’s very obvious when you start putting walls into your game that require people to pay money to get over. I don’t know why games do it; we’re certainly not going to do that, ever".

It's hard to tell yet whether this means World of Speeds free model will be purely free, or if this is simply a declaration of war on the "pay to win" side of free to play gaming. Either way, they are yet to reveal how they intend to pay for development for the free mmo, but it sounds like, with World of Speed, Slightly Mad Studios plan to eliminate purchasable upgrades entirely.

"We will never have a super-nitrous pack that will allow somebody to accelerate away from you. We expect you to get to the upper echelons of the game, with the best kit and best cars, and not have spent a single penny."

Is this a bold, wise move from the studio, or a Slightly Mad...slightly mad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.